How to Spot The Best Movie Locations

Spotting movie locations is slightly more difficult than it first seems. Movie titles and locations named in movie dialogue are often misleading because it is sometimes cheaper for movie productions to film at cheaper locations do to budget, licensing or accessibility constraints. One can check the end credits of a movie or a show for location listings, but this will typically only occur if the entire movie was filmed in a single location.

To spot a movie or television show’s location, look for permanent and defining characteristics in the scenery. Buildings will usually be selected for their architecture, which means the names and colors may be changed but the construction remains the same. For example, the famed Rydell High in Grease was actually filmed at Venice High School in Los Angeles, Calif. The School’s sign has been changed for the movie but the architecture is the same.

Many movie and television locations are also chosen because of their natural environments. These are not easily altered and can often serve as clear and distinct indications of a location. Before beginning your hunt, search the internet to verify that the production was filmed on location then begin searching the scenes for landmarks.